Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Ochoco Lake, OR

Once you cross the Cascade Range, the climate and terrain change appreciably. Gone are the wet rain forests and towering firs, replaced by Ponderosa and lodgepole pine, desert, and sagebrush. Also see the 1981 post for some cool pictures.

The striking dichotomy that I observed - which exists all across the west - is the stark contrast between the native vegetation and the heavily irrigated fields. Much of the water that descends from the mountains in the spring is rationed out to farmers, who in central and eastern Oregon use it mainly to water crops that are intended as forage for cattle and horses. Canals lace the landscape to deliver that water where it is needed.

Irrigation and sagebrush

At Powell Butte, shortly after Redmond, there was a burger stand by the side of the road. It was done up in a fireman theme (the owner was a retired firefighter), and featured what some publication had declared the best burgers in central Oregon. Of course, I had to stop. That burger made for a good breakfast!

Big Al's burger stand

Big Al's Barn Burner

The descent into Prineville was both exhilarating and picture-worthy. I doubt if this photo will do it justice. The road wraps around three hills on the way down, with Prineville in the valley below.

The descent into Prineville

When Jack and I did McKenzie Pass, we went all the way from Frog Campground to Ochoco Lake. But that was with good weather. Since I had stopped in Redmond, I thought I could make it all the way to Ochoco Pass today. But the temptation to stop at Ochoco Lake was too strong. And it turned out to be a fun experience. And a free meal.

It was at Ochoco Lake State Park that Jack and I met Guy and Rick, two fellow bikers who had also stopped to camp there. The park was now a county park, and it was excellently maintained. And the host, a spry man of 81, offered me a can of pop. "I do that for all cyclists," he said. So I decided to spend the night.

In 1981, there had been a restaurant across the highway from the park. That was where we met Hermon Hoffer, our 74-year-old friend from Michigan who was also doing the TransAmerica Trail. See a shot of him outside the restaurant here. Now, the restaurant is closed.

Hermon Hoffer isn't here.

A couple from back east, who were touring part of the west in their camper-van, invited me over for dinner, and we stuffed ourselves on pork chops and corn on the cob, followed by moose tracks ice cream and an evening of pleasant conversation. The wife was into genealogy, and they had some amazing stories to tell about their adventures both here in the US and in Croatia, which they visited not long after the Serbian-Croatian conflict.

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Map Notes

Unfortunately, the mobile version of Blogger does not permit the placement of photos within the text, nor titling of the photos. You will just have to guess which photos go with what text.

You can see a Google Maps route map associated with a daily post by clicking on the first link (up there in the from-to text). However, note that Google Maps on Android does not permit the customization of maps, so these maps do not reflect the route I actually took: they show only what Google Maps thinks is an appropriate bike route between the starting and ending spots.

The real routes are provided in the TransAmerica Trail maps published by the Adventure Cycling Association, information from which is used here by their kind permission. You can, of course, use these Google Maps as a starting point for planning your own trip. But keep in mind that the Google Maps routes do not always coincide with the TransAmerica Trail maps, and of course do not show all the extras that are included on those maps. I strongly recommend that you purchase the Adventure Cycling maps. They contain much more detailed information about the routes, and include history, points of interest, lodging/camping information, and emergency contacts for the areas through which you will be passing.

About Me

After forty years bustin' my butt as a computer programmer, I up and quit. What comes after retirement? Read my blogs and find out.
Note that, unless you know me personally, they will bore you silly. And if you do know me personally, it won't be much better.